[Janey]

Hello,
I have a 2012 Fiat 500 sport I've owned for about 3 years and all I have needed to do is change the oil and tires. the other day the "check engine" light came on and I got a little nervous. A mechanic friend came over and check it out and said my coolant is beyond low. He asked if my car was overheating. Its not. It's not doing anything out of the ordinary, at all.
My question is, should I take it to the dealership? That's who does my oil changes (no one else in the town I live in can) or can I add coolant and if so, what kind?
Any help is great. I'm not driving my great little car until it's safe to do so. I don't want to cause any damage.
Thanks!
Jane

 

[smark]

Welcome to the forum. Jan, just add coolant, have your mechanic friend reset the check light code.

 

[Janey]

Thank you for the speedy response!! Appreciate it. Do you know what kind I would get? I'm kinda clueless.

 

[smark]

Here are some coolant choices, from Rock Auto.

2014 FIAT 500 1.4L L4 SOHC Coolant / Antifreeze | RockAuto

RockAuto ships auto parts and body parts from over 300 manufacturers to customers' doors worldwide, all at warehouse prices. Easy to use parts catalog.

www.rockauto.com

Mopar Antifreeze

Janey, it would be a good idea, to run your car by any Auto parts store.
They will scan for your engine check light code free. It might be something
else, then low coolant.

 

[Janey]

Thanks very much!!!

 

[fast_dave]

@Janey

Just an observation to a bigger problem than you already have.

As shown in the Maintenance Chart in post #4 of this thread, your 2012 500 engine coolant is now 10 years old, and should be exchanged with new coolant by your mechanic ASAP!

If you keep the old coolant in your engine, you are risking having head gasket, water pump, cabin heater, and radiator problems.

Coolant replacement is cheap - engine repairs are expensive

Hope that helps -

 

[bryanintowson]

You can get the appropriate coolant from your local Dodge/ Chrysler dealer. It is used in many MOPARs of the 2012-2019 era.

 

[ferret]

I agree, get the engine code. My wife's 2012 sport had a P0128 back in Jan 2021. The thermostat was stuck open. Caused no errors other than that single code. But could not get car inspected until I corrected it. Here's a link to that thread: Check Engine Light On After Cold

 

[Janey]

Thank you all so much, this is great info. I am taking my car to the dealership. He needs his 70K check anyway. I'm sure they'll take care of it. And, it'll be expensive lol...

 

[smark]

You can get the appropriate coolant from your local Dodge/ Chrysler dealer. It is used in many MOPARs of the 2012-2019 era.

That’s where, I got mine coolant from.

 

[Fabio13]

That’s where, I got mine coolant from.

Same here.

 

[scooterguy]

He needs his 70K check anyway. I'm sure they'll take care of it. And, it'll be expensive lol...

When you say "it'll be expensive", why do you say that? Is it because the timing belt needs to be changed? Many cars go until 150k, but I recently was told that my 2012 Fiat Studio/Sport should have it changed at 70k miles. (The Fiat has an interference engine, which means that if the timing belt breaks, some valves should be damaged, which means a VERY expensive repair job. Thus I had the belt changed at 70k miles, even though I thought it was overkill!)

 

[bryanintowson]

I believe the book says for 2012s that the timing belt interval is 100k miles or thereabouts. I did not have mine done at the dealer but at my local (now closed) Italian car specialist. Back in 2019 I paid about $1800 for timing belt and water pump.

The book also says that the automatic transmission fluid is "lifetime". This is not correct. You should change it out regularly. I had mine changed out at 80k miles.